Fluid siphon for oil wells



y 31, 1934- G. w. HAYWOOD ET AL FLUID SIPHON FOR OIL WELLS Filed Oct. 12'. 19::

5 n o m mm WWW .M W8 6 2 3 a a W 2 Patented July 31, 1 934 steam PATENT OFFICE rwm-sirnos son on. wrus' Glasgow W. and George M. Williamson.

- Application October; 1m, Serial no. more 1 Claim. "(01. its-s) This invention relates to a fluid siphon for An object of the invention is the provision of a siphon lift which is simple in construction, containing substantially no moving parts, which may be readily installed, and which gives a steady flow of liquid through the well tubing while eliminating heading. y

Another object of the invention is the provi- W 'sion of a siphon lift for oil wells inwhich a gas conductor pipe is in communication with the 'usual tubing at a point below the level of the liquid in the well casing, the pipe being in communicaticn with the wellcasing at a point considerably above the level of the liquid, a valve "easing provided with a home at its upper end and a valve seat at its lower end being in communicatlon with the lower end of the conductor pipe and located within the well tubing, a valve being disposed within the valve casing adapted to engage the valve seat and prevent the flow of liquid from the well tuhinginto, thev conductor Pip A still further object of the invention is the pmvisionofasiphonliftforoilwellshavinga nozzle located within the well tubing adjacent a Venturi with a gas conductor pipe located'externally of the well tubing and in communication 1 I with the noule for supplying fluid pressuretothe nomle.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing form- 3 is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expresed in the appended claim.

In the drawing: V Figure! iaaviewinelevationofasiphcnlift cmstructed in with the principles of uurhrvmtiimwiththewellmsinginseetion, figurezisaverticalsectionshowingafragmentary view of a pneumatic pump employed in connection with the siphon lift, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along flmlineHofFlgureZ.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 10

awelleasingoftheusualtypehaving vaensinglheaidllatthueupperendanda.tail-pipe flinthelowerend. Asiringoftubirufllslomtedcentrallyofthe liidleainglmprojectsthroughthecasinghead tank or separator, not shown.

ing a part of the specification; nevertheless, it

l1. and is provided with a valve 14 for controlling the flow of oil or otherliquids from the well. A pipe 15. which is in communication with the well tubing 13. is adapted to conduct the liquid to a .0

A pneumatic pump, generally designated by the numeral 20, is incorporated in the well tubing 13 adjacent the upper end of the tail pipe 12.. This pump consists of a piece of tubing 21 connected I at 22 nd 2a with the well tubing is and the tall 06 n he i A pipe 24 is located axially and vertically of the section 21 of the tubing and has a closed end 25 at the bottom thereof; The upper end of this tubing is threaded into a valve casing 26, as shown To at 27. The valve casing is of greater diameter than the pipe 24 and is provided with a valve seat 28 to receive a valve 29. This valve. as will be seen, permits gas to enter the valve casing 26 and prevents liquid from the tubing 13 and likewise from the well casing 10 to enter the pipe 24.

A Venturi is located above the upper end of the valve casing 26 where the valve casing is provided with a nozzle 31 in order to increase the rate of flowof liquid in the well 'tubing at this point. 30 The Venturi is supported in the tubing 12 by 'means of ribs 32 which are secured between the outer walls of the Venturi and the inner walls of the tubing 21. I

An air or gas conductor pipe 35 is located in the well casing 10 and exteriorly of the well tubing 13. The pipe 35 is connected to the tubing 13 by means of ribs 36. The pipe 35 is provided with a perforated cap 3'7 and this cap is located above the level of the liquid in the well casing 10, the level of the'liquld being indicated by the dotted line 38 in Fig. l. The perforated cap permits gas from the well casing 10 to enter the pipe 35 for a purpose which will be presently explained. The pipe 35 has an angular extension 40 extending through the section 21 of the tubing for placing the pipe 35 in open communication with the pipe 24.

nozzle 31 and enter theventuri 30, thereby creating, sufllcient suction on the liquid to elevate the liquid in the well tubing and cause the liquid to flow out of the tubing 15 to the usual tank or separator, not shown.

Where the gas pressure is insumcient, air under pressure may be forced into the casing 10 through a pipe 45 controlled by a valve 46 and this air under pressure will enter the perforated cap 37, pass through the pipe 35, emerge from the nozzle 31 and create a suction in the tubing 13 for raising the liquid ata suflicient height for the liquid to be discharged from the tubing 15. If it be desired to wash the well at any time this may be done and the valve 29 being located on its seat 28 will prevent liquid from entering the pipes 24 and 35.

The pump is set in the tubing string at the proper submergence depending upon, of course, the depth of the well and the fluid level. The tail pipe 12 is run below the pump to the very bottom of the well and gas conductor pipe 35 is run upwardly from the pump to the proper height as determined by the fluid level, the pressure or the well and the amount of fluid to be handled.

The gas conductor tube 35 acts both as a means for leading the gas orair from the space 'in the well casing 10 above the liquid to the submerged pump 20 and as a choke to the flow or gas. The size and length of the pipe 35 control the amount of gas passing to the pump and prevent a sudden rush of gas, thus eliminating heads". In this manner a steady and constant flow of liquid is obtained from the tubing 15.

The pressure maintained in the casing and properly regulated by the conductor pipe 35 gives an artificially increased subr'nergence in the tubing string 13.

The tail pipe 12 being run to the bottom of the well and being a continuation of the well tubing 13 below the pump 20 is for the purpose of picking up the liquid from the bottom of the well for preventing the gas from breaking into the tubing below the pump. By the use of the tail pipe the heavier dead particles of liquid will naturally settle to the bottom oi. the well and are the first particles allowed to flow from the well thus keep ing the well clean and in a thoroughly live condition. In view or the construction the pump will give a suction lift even when discharging against a high head.

In view of the particular construction of the pump the valve will be completely opened when the well is on production and closed when the well is inoperative. The well will start flowing whenever the valve is open and by this means pressure which is maintained on the fluid at all times hinders the encroachment of water.

We claim:

A fluid siphon for oil wells comprising a well casing, a tubing within the casing from which liquid is adapted to be discharged, a gas conductor pipe located in the casing and having the lower end-connected to the tubing passing through the tubing, the upper end of the pipe being open to the casing above the level of the liquid in the easing to receive gas from the casing, a valve casing in the tubing having a nozzle at the upper end and a valve seat at lower end thereof, a tube having the upper end threaded into the bottom of the valve casing and the lower end closed, the pipe where extended into the tubing being connected to and in communication with the tube intermediate the ends thereof, a valve co-operating with the seat for preventing liquid from the well casing from flowing into the pipe, a venturi in the tubing above the nozzle, the nozzle projecting into the venturi.

GLASGOW W. HAYWOOD. GEO. M. WILLIAMSON. 

